Monthly Highlights

Glacier Park's Night Of The Grizzlies On the night of August 12, 1967, grizzly bears in Glacier National Park killed two young women and severely mauled one man. For everyone involved, it remains an unforgettable night of crisis, intense fear, bravery and, ultimately, grief. This dramatic and tragic story, and how it eventually influenced the fate of the grizzly bear in the continental United States, takes center stage in the historical documentary. Archival material, photographs, re-creations and gripping on-camera interviews with survivors, witnesses, family members, journalists and biologists, provide a complete account of those events. Veteran film and television actor J.K. Simmons (Law and Order, Juno, Up in the Air, The Closer) narrates. Airs Monday, 3/2 at 9:45pm, Wednesday, 3/4 at 3am

Beartooth Highway Winding its way through pristine mountain air and majestic, snow-capped peaks, Montana's magnificent Beartooth Highway was described as "America's most beautiful roadway" by Charles Kuralt. You'll see why in this video tour travelling along the 69-mile scenic route from its beginning in Red Lodge, Montana, to its spectacular finish at the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Airs Monday, 3/2 at 9:14pm, Thursday, 3/5 at 4:45am

Montana On My Mind Montana on My Mind celebrates the unique beauty and spirit of the last best state. Inspired by the best-selling book, "Montana on My Mind," this program combines stunning film with inspiring quotes, music and commentary by Michael S. Sample. Including magnificent scenery, people, places and events, this program will leave you with an unforgettable portrait of Montana. Airs Monday, 3/2 at 6:59pm, Thursday, 3/5 at 2:30am, Saturday, 3/7 at 4am

Glacier On My Mind Glacier on My Mind celebrates the rugged beauty and spirit of Glacier National Park in Montana. This park is a stunning region of spectacular mountains, beautiful forests, cascading streams, and magnificent wildlife, all shown here in breathtaking color images by Montana photographer Michael Sample. The images are carefully matched with quotations from writers who know and love these splendid parks, creating a unique and timeless portrait of these remarkable lands. Airs Monday, 3/2 at 8:29pm Thursday, 3/5 at 4am

Finding Traction Finding Traction presents the inspirational story of ultra-runner Nikki Kimball's quest to become the fastest person in history to run America's oldest hiking trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. Through Nikki's incredible journey, racing towards a dream and against time, we gain a new perspective on what we all share in terms of endurance and the human spirit. Airs Tuesday, 3/3 at 6:59pm, Thursday, 3/5 at 1am

Love Is The Journey - The Montana Logging And Ballet Company Watch the final televised performance of the Montana Logging and Ballet Company after 37 years of touring. This program was filmed live in Helena, Montana and includes interviews and the history of the group. Airs Sunday, 3/8 at 11:30pm, Thursday, 3/12 at 2am

Great Falls Story - A Tribute To 125 Years It is hard to imagine what was more memorable in Glacier Park a century ago: the breath taking scenery, or the adventure. Travel in time with us as we follow the adventures of our counterparts 100 years ago through rare, restored film, museum pictures and historical memorabilia. See how eastern city slickers were lured to North central Montana by a glitzy promotional campaign promoted by the Great Northern Railroad. Airs Monday, 3/9 at 7:59pm, Wednesday, 3/11 at 11:30pm, Thursday, 3/12 at 4:30am

Backroads Of Montana Special Presentation - Russell Country (No. 104) Award-winning C.M. Russell biographer Jane Lambert hosts this Backroads tribute to Montana’s Russell Country. We’ll remember the first air mail delivery in Great Falls, visit the city’s Veterans Memorial and profile Piano Pat at the Sip ’n Dip Lounge. The long-gone Ozark Club, a doll museum in Loma, a Girl Scout troop at Giant Springs State Park, and a harp builder in Fort Benton round out the retrospective. Airs Monday, 3/09 at 6:59pm, Thursday, 3/12 at 1am

Glacier Park Remembered The Great Falls Story tells the history of everyday life in what was Montana's largest city. Great Falls began as an ambitious dream to make north-central Montana an industrial empire. The dream included parks, buildings, stores and an opera house to rival anywhere. The story is told through hundreds of photos, rare film from nearly a century ago, and firsthand stories. It includes accounts from the world's oldest man, Great Falls resident Walter Breuning and "Captain Dynamite," a crowd favorite for blowing himself up at Great Falls ball games. New York and Los Angeles Emmy Award winning network news correspondent Craig Wirth returns home to Great Falls to join longtime Montana broadcaster Norma Ashby to produce this Montana tribute. Airs Monday, 3/9 at 9:30pm, Wednesday, 3/11 at 2am

Aber Day Kegger Documentary This documentary traces the evolution of the Aber Day Benefit Kegger from its humble beginnings in 1972, through its meteoric growth over the next eight years, to its eventual conclusion in 1979. In the process, the event managed to leave its mark on the tens of thousands who attended, the beneficiaries who received its contributions, the community who hosted the event, and in Guinness World Records which recognized the event as the world's largest benefit kegger. Airs Monday, 3/9 at 11pm, Wednesday, 3/11 at 3:30am

Butte, America Grounded in the dramatic personal stories of five generations of mining families, and narrated by Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, this program tells the tale of Butte, Montana. Butte was once the world's largest producer of copper -- the "Richest Hill on Earth," the town that "plumbed and electrified America," the Pittsburgh of the West. The community's toughness, vitality and solidarity speak to what's missing in America today, while raising profound questions about the costs and consequences of industrialization and use of natural resources. "Butte, America" is an unsentimental and moving tribute to working class life and to the never-ending labor of achieving fairness in a world where powerful, destructive forces are always at play. Airs Tuesday, 3/10 at 7pm, Friday, 3/13 at 1am, Sunday, 3/15 at 3:30pm

Never Long Gone - The Mission Mountain Wood Band Story In 1971, two young musicians from Missoula, Montana, took a trip in a van and began a journey that continues to this day. Against the backdrop of cultural change that swept the nation, a group of Montanans with talent, big dreams and a tremendous sense of fun explored a sound that defied category and captivated audiences at home and across the country. Sharing stories about working alongside musical greats like Bonnie Raitt and Charlie Daniels, playing to crowds that numbered in the tens of thousands, and surviving long years on the road, Never Long Gone offers an intimate portrait of a journey full of hope, loss and perseverance. With never before seen archival footage, national television performances and scenes from recent reunion concerts, this documentary tells the story of a musical family that embodied the magic of an era and remains as a centerpiece of Montana's musical tradition. Airs Saturday, 3/14 at 10:30pm

11th & Grant With Eric Funk - Finnegan Ridge (No. 301) Finnegan Ridge is a pure Celtic band dedicated to capturing the compelling sounds of Irish music. Those of you with Irish heritage, and everyone else, are going to be thrilled with the haunting melodies, authentic approach, and dedication to detail and finesse of this fine 6-piece band. Airs Thursday, 3/19 at 7pm, Saturday, 3/21 at 10:07pm, Monday, 3/23 at 4am

Backroads Of Montana - News, Brews And Views (No. 133) We learn the history of Montana breweries at a beer museum in Polson, spend time with the radio voice of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation KGVA, visit Montana's smallest state park and meet a Three Forks man who collects artifacts and stories for his newspaper column. William Marcus hosts the program from the Prairie Winds Cafe in Molt. Airs Saturday, 3/21 at 5pm

Sun River Homestead This documentary tells the story of Esther Strasburger and her two sisters, Lydia and Anna, homesteaders in the Sun River Valley near Simms, Montana, in the early 1900s. The program also explores how homesteading was marketed to prospective settlers, including direct appeals to women. Airs Sunday, 3/22 at 10:30am

Joseph Kinsey Howard: A Life Outside The Margins Joe Howard was one of the most influential and controversial figures in Montana during the 1930s and 40s. As a journalist and historian, he drew attention to the social, political, and economic struggles of the state but his role in Montana's cultural development may be his most significant contribution. This program provides an insight into his life and legacy. Airs Sunday, 3/22 at 10am

Montana Ag Live - Crop Diversity (No. 4301) Perry Miller will guest this week on Ag Live to help us understand how crop diversity is one of the keys to sustainability in today's Montana agricultural landscape. Airs Sunday, 3/22 at 6pm, Sunday, 3/29 at 11am

4-h: Six Montana Stories Follow six young Montanans as they learn that 4-H is about having fun--but being responsible about it. It's about refusing to give up on the runt of the litter, staying up all night to bottle feed a sick calf while knowing someday you'll have to say goodbye. It's about knowing where you're headed but never forgetting where you've been. And it's about pledging your head, your heart, your hands, and your health—not for yourself, but to help others. Airs Thursday, 3/26 at 7pm, Monday, 3/30 at 2am

Backroads Of Montana - Harlo To Huntley (No. 134) The Backroads crew attends the annual threshing bee in Huntley to visit a simpler era when hay wagons were piled high and steam ruled the prairie. At the Harlo Theatre in Harlowton, students run everything from popcorn sales to projectors, proving there's more to this little theatre than box office returns. In Grass Range, a group of folks come from miles around one Sunday every month for a sense of community and nostalgia—and because they love to dance. Airs Saturday, 3/28 at 5pm

Kicking The Loose Gravel Home: Richard HugoFilmed on location in Montana and Washington State, this 1976 biography of poet and teacher Richard Hugo features readings of some of his most famous poems as well as interviews with his family and friends. Produced by Annick Smith. Airs Sunday, 3/29 at 10am

Each month, MontanaPBS presents new programs and favorites from the past that have been produced in the state. For a detailed schedule with airdates and descriptions of the upcoming Montana programs, view the featured Monthly Highlights.

Improved and more economical television production technologies, such as the digital video (DV) format, have made it easier than ever before for individuals to create their own programs for potential broadcast. MontanaPBS encourages these Independent Producers, and in some cases we may be able to provide some assistance on your project. Visit our Independents page for more information.